University of Houston Athletics
Solberg Impressed with Skills and Conditioning in Preseason
8/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 20, 2001
First thing in the morning on Wednesday soccer preseason camp started for the Lady Cougars soccer team. They had two days to prepare for a weekend of team camaraderie which coach Bill Solberg hoped would quickly set his team in motion for the big season ahead.
According to Solberg the team has come in to this season stronger and more in shape than ever before. "This is the first year that we have had the majority of girls pass all of the strength and conditioning drills on the first try. We are strides ahead of last year as far as the style of play, fitness, attitude and chemistry."
Solberg plans to focus on the team's style of play as well as improving ball handling skills. "We will work on drills to polish our scrimmage play and improve our high level of conditioning so we can come out and really surprise some teams this year. "
Solberg along with assistants Crystalin Montgomery, and Joe Kirt have identified a couple of goals for the season "We have pinpointed a Conference Championship as our first goal. I do believe that it is within our reach considering the quality of players that we have. A Conference Championship title would reassure us of a NCAA birth and anything can happen as long as you make the tournament. Our goal is also to make this a record setting season for our ten seniors."
The initial class of freshman in the Cougar soccer program is now seniors. The pressure for them will be greater this year than it has been on any other group because they will be the first group of four year lettermen to achieve this status. "The seniors are realizing that this is their last opportunity to play Division I soccer." Bill Solberg stated, "The girls were talking to me the other day and mentioned that this was going to be the last season they had to beat these teams. So they want to make a statement. They want to have bragging rights for the rest of their lives. Their goal is to make this their best season yet."
